How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children in Alaska?
In Alaska, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a willAS 13.26.121, 13.26.126, 13.26.132Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18AS 25.20.010Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
In Alaska, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a willAS 13.26.121, 13.26.126, 13.26.132Verified Sep 15, 2026View source. It needs your signature, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18AS 25.20.010Verified Sep 15, 2026View source. It can be recorded alongside the rest of an estate plan when you create a revocable living trust.
When a parent has named a guardian, the court appoints the guardian the parent named unless it finds that person unsuitableAS 13.26.121, 13.26.126, 13.26.132Verified Sep 15, 2026View source. A backup guardian named in the same document applies if the first choice cannot serve.
No. Alaska makes the guardian nomination through a will or the guardianship petition rather than a standalone declarationAS 13.26.121, 13.26.126, 13.26.132Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; a guardian is named in the will or in the guardianship petition.
Yes. Alaska allows a Delegation of Powers Over Minor Child (Power of Attorney), under which any adult can be authorized for a limited time (up to 1 year) without transferring custodyAS 13.26.066Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
In Alaska, a child 14 or older may choose their guardian, subject to the court's approvalAS 13.26.143, 13.26.126Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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New Baby or Adoption
Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.
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Marriage
What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.
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New Home
How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.
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Retirement
Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.
Learn moreForms for Planning Your Estate in Alaska
Free forms for planning your estate in Alaska: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.
Last Will and Testament
In Alaska, a will is signed before 2AS 13.12.502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyAS 13.12.502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Alaska allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2AS 13.52.300Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
Financial Power of Attorney
Alaska requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityAS 13.26.600, AS 13.26.605, AS 13.26.610, AS 13.26.615, AS 13.26.620, AS 13.26.625, AS 13.26.645, AS 13.26.650, AS 13.26.660, AS 13.26.665, AS 13.26.670, AS 13.26.675, AS 13.26.680, AS 13.26.695; AS 40.17.080, AS 40.17.090, AS 40.17.110 (recording); AS 13.28.010-095 (interstate recognition)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before a notaryAS 13.26.600, AS 13.26.605, AS 13.26.610, AS 13.26.615, AS 13.26.620, AS 13.26.625, AS 13.26.645, AS 13.26.650, AS 13.26.660, AS 13.26.665, AS 13.26.670, AS 13.26.675, AS 13.26.680, AS 13.26.695; AS 40.17.080, AS 40.17.090, AS 40.17.110 (recording); AS 13.28.010-095 (interstate recognition)Verified Sep 18, 2026View source.
Transfer on Death Deed
In Alaska, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryAS 13.48.010-.195Verified Oct 18, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathAS 13.48.010-.195Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
Vehicle Transfer on Death
Name a beneficiary to inherit your vehicle at death without probate. Available in 26 states and the District of Columbia.
Living Will
In Alaska, the living will is the Advance Health Care DirectiveAS 13.52 (Health Care Decisions Act), §§ 13.52.010-13.52.395; as amended by ch. 24 SLA 26 (HB 195) and ch. 21 SLA 26 (SB 89)Verified Sep 27, 2026View source, a written instruction that is valid with no agent named.
Tools for Planning Your Estate in Alaska
Free tools for planning your estate in Alaska: what a will or trust costs, whether you need a trust or TOD deed, and how documents are signed.
How Much Does a Will Cost?
An attorney-prepared will in Alaska runs $1,119Estimate: 3 hours at $373, Clio's Alaska Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,238Estimate: 6 hours at $373, Clio's Alaska Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $27,032AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
In Alaska, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2.1%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.3%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Alaska runs $3,300Estimate: 10 hours at $330, Clio's Alaska Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $4,950Estimate: 15 hours at $330, Clio's Alaska Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,119Estimate: 3 hours at $373, Clio's Alaska Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,238Estimate: 6 hours at $373, Clio's Alaska Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
In Alaska, four years at a public university cost about $85,936NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is near the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; no state estate or inheritance tax appliesAlaska levies no estate or inheritance tax. AS 43.31.011 (Estate Tax Law of Alaska) remains on the books but is an inert "pickup" tax — its amount is measured by "the credit allowable under the applicable federal revenue Act for estate, inheritance, legacy, and succession taxes actually paid to the several states," and that federal credit no longer exists, so the tax computes to $0. AS 43.31.400 keeps the chapter nominally operative so long as a federal estate tax exists, so this is an inert pickup rather than a repeal. Alaska Department of Revenue: "Alaska no longer has an estate tax. Alaska did have one until Jan. 1, 2005. The state estate tax was tied to the federal state death tax credit, and that credit was phased out in 2005." Alaska has no inheritance tax: AS 43.30 (Inheritance and Transfer Taxes) was repealed in full by § 1, ch. 24, SLA 1970, and the DOR tax-type list carries no inheritance tax program. Verified 2026-09-10.Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
Alaska automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceAS 13.12.804Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
Find witness, notary, and remote signing requirements for all 50 states.
Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
Check if estate planning documents signed in one state are valid in another.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Alaska costs an estimated $27,032AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 2.1%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.3%AS 13.16.440 (court reviews reasonableness of compensation paid to agents/attorneys employed by the estate; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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Alaska Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Alaska probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.